Have been manifesting good things easily for quite some time. Health, relationships, finances. Pretty much everything. Have a very good abundant life.

Then something very unusual and nasty comes along, totally unexpected.

We are a very healthy and active couple. We take care of ourselves and our health. Recently my wife's back started hurting She could barely walk. Could not sit, only lie down or stand, couldn't bend over, I had to tie her shoes. It was that bad!

No traumatic event, she did not fall or even exert herself more than usual. No reason we can find. Doctor visits. X-rays, MRI, she can barely walk. Pain is extreme. Then it is gone, completely gone after about a week of absolute agony. Perfect health has returned.

We collect old Cadillacs. We bought several and it went easy, simple, smooth. The cars were easily located, bought at good prices, delivered and driven. Little needing to be done than a few minor details.

In February we bought bought a really neat old car. A 1960 Cadillac Limousine. Beautiful car, perfect paint. Respected seller, well known in the community. He had been working on it and had done several upgrades, new brakes, new gas tank. A happy, effortless transaction.

The car was loaded on a carrier in Pennsylvania and delivered to Atlanta. The driver had unloaded the car before we got home. When we got there, he showed us the Bill of Lading indicating that there was pre-existing damage to the front door, preventing it from opening. I signed off on it and brought the car inside our garage. It turned out that when the driver was unloading the car, he dropped it into the transporter causing the damage, a neighbor told us later.

The insurance company is sending me a check for almost three times what it will cost for me to have it repaired. Just heard from the adjuster.

We try not to feed energy into these events and stay positive. Other than gently taking small action steps to resolution. 99% of our life is fantastic and we know better than to dwell on negative events. We do not worry and face each day with joy. Wonderful things happen to us each day.

I had to think about finding the two events above as examples because the good examples far outweigh the negatives. There is enough wonderful contrast in our lives deciding between fun situations that when something like the above comes along, it is a surprise, but we would like to increase our joyous situations even more.

Your advice? Thanks, Bill

EDITED Do most of you feel that the Inner is reflective of the Outer? That by refining yourself you have more joyful lives?

Or do you feel that you are at the whim of outside forces beyond your ken? That, just to teach you a lesson, something has to come along and knock you off your center? You are neither rewarded, nor punished FOR your behavior, but BY your behavior.

And you have the guidance system to help you get back on track.

There is enough contrast going from beauty to beauty. There is no need to experience despair in order to feel greater and greater joy. God does not test. No.

I think that I have the answer to my question and it is to walk away from this post and the unnecessary emphasis I have put on these very minor negative situations. I have better things to do and am leaving to go do them!

I'll be back from time to time. "Experience and Enjoy!" And thank you for being a part of this process. It is through our relationships that we define ourselves.